The first signs of spring remind us that longer days and warmer weather are not too far away.
Look out for these teeny tiny, bright pink hazel flowers that will be starting to blossom alongside the catkins. Hard to spot, but a real treasure to find.
Hazel trees have both male and female flowers that form alongside each other on the same tree (this is called monoecious). The male catkins release pollen, which is carried by the wind to reach the tiny female flowers of neighbouring trees. After pollination, it is the female flower which produces the nut.
Hazel nuts provide a vital source of nutrition for numerous birds and mammals and are also harvested for human consumption. Hazel trees provide food and shelter for all manner of wildlife, from birds, mice and insects to the creatures further up the food chain that predate them including bats, owls, hedgehogs, foxes and deer.
The natural world continues its cycles of growth, change, predation and decay regardless of what is happening in our everyday lives. If we take a moment to look and learn a little, we can be part of a world of incredible interest and wonder.